Who are the cannabis associations in France?

The militant fabric of a country is important for raising public awareness of possible changes in the law.

In 2026, recreational cannabis remains illegal in France, with the political debate still raging, particularly since the parliamentary report submitted in February 2025, and continued experimentation with medical cannabis confirmed beyond March 31, 2026.

So who are the cannabis associations in France?

Pro-legalization associations / legislative reform

NORML France

The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) was founded in 1970 in the United States. It was a major player in the first decriminalizations of cannabis and accompanied the legalization movements. NORML France merged with the association Chanvre et Libertés in 2013.

Hemp and freedom was a 1901 association created in 2013. The result of the merger of several associations (CIRC Nord-Est, Chanvre et Violettes...), Chanvre et libertés aims to evolve the legal status of cannabis in France, with the expertise of users and health and legal professionals. The association also federates local organizations such as Cannabis sans Frontières and certain CIRCs.

Site : norml.fr

Cannabis sans frontières

Cannabis sans frontières (CSF) is an association under the French law of 1901 that acts against cannabis prohibition and related repression policies. Founded in 2009 by Farid Ghehiouèche, the face of the association, CSF ran a list in the 2009 and 2014 European elections, winning 0.24% of the vote, and in the 2012 legislative elections in Essonne, winning 0.42% of the vote.

IARC

The IARC is the Collectif d'Information et de Recherche sur le Cannabis (Cannabis Information and Research Collective), an association created in 1991 under the French law of 1901. Its aim is to disseminate information on cannabis for preventive purposes, in order to reduce the risks associated with drug use. It brings together several local CIRCs: Paris, Nantes, Lyon, Marseille, Bretagne and Midi-Pyrénées.

Site : circ-asso.net

Harm reduction associations

ASUD

L’Self-Support for Drug Users, created in 1992, is not limited to cannabis. It promotes harm reduction among drug users and ex-drug users, while supporting anyone in the care of the health and social services system with questions relating to their drug use. ASUD also campaigns for the reform of cannabis laws in France.

Site : asud.org

Medical cannabis associations

Health France Cannabis

Founded to structure the French medical cannabis industry, Santé France Cannabis brings together the sector's economic players (producers, distributors, laboratories) operating within the framework of national experimentation. The association defends the legal recognition and controlled development of therapeutic cannabis in France, and represents the industry's voice to institutions. In particular, it is campaigning for the trial to be extended beyond March 31, 2026, and for it to lead to genuine legislation enabling long-term, wider access for patients.

Site : santefrancecannabis.fr

UIVEC (Union des Industriels pour la Valorisation des Extraits de Chanvre)

UIVEC (Union des Industriels pour la Valorisation des Extraits de Chanvre) is a trade association representing some sixty players in the French cannabinoid industry: producers, processors, distributors, ingredient manufacturers, food supplement manufacturers and, above all, pharmaceutical laboratories.

It is precisely this composition that distinguishes UIVEC from other industry organizations such as AFPC and UPCBD. Whereas the latter defend the interests of agricultural producers and professionals in the CBD consumer market, UIVEC has a much more industrial and pharmaceutical vision of the sector. Since 2024, it has become a Qualiopi-certified training organization for healthcare professionals, in anticipation of «the generalization of cannabis-based medicines».

In the regulatory debate, UIVEC advocates a strict framework for cannabinoid-based products, high quality and traceability requirements, and the gradual integration of CBD into the medical and pharmaceutical circuits. While this position favours the major industrial players capable of supporting these constraints, it mechanically tends to exclude small-scale producers and restrict the consumer market to the dispensary/prescription channel.

Its scope explicitly excludes recreational cannabis and synthetic neo-cannabinoids, but includes medical cannabis as a priority in line with the interests of its pharmaceutical members.

Site : uivec.org

Hemp/CBD associations

AFPC (French Association of Cannabinoid Producers)

Founded by farmers passionate about hemp, AFPC (Association Française des Producteurs de Cannabinoïdes) is the benchmark association for active hemp growers in France. It brings together over 250 growers and is committed to a number of fronts: legal and technical support for its members, promotion of organic and sustainable agriculture, structuring the industry in the face of foreign competition, and lobbying public authorities and the European Commission.

In particular, AFPC fought to legalize the sale of CBD flowers in France - a battle that was partially won - and is campaigning to extend the range of authorized hemp varieties, authorize temporary THC levels to be exceeded during processing, and create a national quality label for French CBD products. It has signed agreements with the Syndicat du Chanvre and the UPCBD to increase its influence in the industry.

Site : lafpc.fr

UPCBD (Union of CBD Professionals)

The UPCBD (Union des Professionnels du CBD) is the reference union for CBD industry professionals in France. It unites producers, processors and distributors around a common mission: to gain recognition for CBD as a legitimate, safe and regulated product, by challenging the contradictory regulations that weigh on the industry.

Very active on the legal and institutional front, the UPCBD has fought against roadside saliva tests that confuse CBD use with driving under the influence of drugs, an emblematic battle taken all the way to the courts. It regularly publishes alerts for professionals on regulatory developments (Novel Food, new cannabinoids such as CBC, DGCCRF controls) and intervenes in budget debates, such as on Article 23 of the PLF 2026.

UPCBD has also signed collaboration agreements with AFPC and Syndicat du Chanvre to increase its collective influence on French hemp policy.

Missing associations

Mothers for marijuana

The association Mothers for marijuana was the French counterpart to the American association Moms for marijuana. Mothers for Marijuana is a parents' association that aims to raise awareness among other parents about the future of cannabis and combat ignorance about the plant.

Their Facebook page > https://www.facebook.com/M%C3%A8res-pour-la-Marijuana-France-151590471679963/

Association for cannabis in other French-speaking countries

Bloc Pot (Canada)

The Block Pot is a Quebec political party founded in 1998. Their aim is to end cannabis prohibition and move towards legalization. The party has not yet succeeded in electing any members to the Quebec National Assembly.

Their website > http://blocpot.qc.ca/
Their Facebook page > https://www.facebook.com/partiblocpot

Trekt Uw Plant (Belgium)

Trekt Uw Plant or Tire Ton Plant is a Belgian association founded in 2006. Its aim is to demonstrate that the legalization of cannabis cultivation is possible in Belgium.

Their website > http://www.trektuwplant.be/

How can we help these associations?

There are 3 ways to help these associations:

• follow them on social networks and relay their publications. This gives them weight and gets their message across.
• support them financially. Membership fees and donations are very important to them. It's what enables them to communicate, create events and grow.
• become a member. Without members, associations don't exist.

You are an association and we have forgotten you? Would you like to add some information? Contact us !